Is Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini losing the faith of his players? Following his team’s 3-1 loss away to Ajax—a result that left City bottom of UEFA Champions
League Group D and in need of a miracle to qualify for the Round of 16— defender Micah Richards told reporters that
the change of defensive formation to a back three cost City the game. “It is something we have no worked on very much and it is the second time we have conceded after going to a back
three,” Richards said. “We will have to work on it ... but I think the players prefer a back four.”

To be fair, Mancini shouldered the blame for the loss, saying that the
team’s preparation for the game was poor. However, the Italian dismissed suggestions that changing to three defenders at the back—which lasted for all of five minutes—was the turning
point. In fact, on hearing of Richards’ dissenting opinion about his tactics, Mancini said his opinion “is not
important,” adding: “Maybe Micah doesn’t know because it was his first game for two-and-a-half months.”